Savings bank



J. l. HOUCK SAVINGS BANK July 6,- 1948.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed om. 23. i947 nvm/TOR, J I. Ho ack BY l / A TORNEY July 651948. @1.1. HOUCK y 4MM SAVINGS BANK Filed. Oct. 28, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y'r -rric-e SAVINGS BANK Jonathan I. Houck, Pottstown, Pa. Application October 28, 1947, Serial Nail-82MB? 4 Claims.

This invention relates to savings banks. An objectof the invention is the provision of a savings bank in the shape of a bell-like casing with a construction mounted on the top thereof representing a hanger for the bell, said hanger having a partially open framework through which a vertical coin slot is formed so that the depositor of a coin may view the descent of said coin prior to its entry into the bell-shaped casing.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a savings bank including a coin receptacle and a partially open framework mounted on the top of the casing and having a coin slot passing therethrough so that a depositor may view the descent of the coin prior to its entrance into said casing, said framework resembling in appearance a suspension means for a swingable bell, the shape of which being simulated by the casing.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a savings bank for coins in which a structure resembling a hanger for a bell is mounted on a bell-shaped coin receptacle and provided with a passage-way leading to an entrance of the coin receptacle, said hanger including a hollow bar connected to the coin receptacle by spaced U-shaped brackets and having an open upper end which is closed by a removable plate, anges projecting downwardly from the plate into the hollow bar forming part of the passageway for the coin, the remaining portion of said passage-way being confined to the spaced brackets which form an open framework to permit a view of the descending-coin prior to its entrance in the receptacle, a coin slot in the plate being alined with the upper end of the passage-way.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a 'savings bank for coins in which a coin receptacle has a removable door for the recovery of coins deposited in said receptacle, said door being in the form of a circular plate having a pair of diametrically disposed peripheral anges adapted to overlap externally similarly disposed flanges at the periphery of an opening in a wall of the receptacle, a pair of the adjacently disposed ends of the flanges at the opening being spaced a lgreater distance apart than the other ends to provide passage-ways for diametrically disposed lugs of different widths which project from the periphery of the circular plate and from the inner face of said plate so that when the plate is placed over the opening with the lugs on the plate being received by the passage-ways of widths corresponding to the proper widths of y said lugs, said plate may be rotated with the lugs moving over the inner faces of the anges at the 2 periphery of. the opening forseouring the plate in positionlovertheopening.

The ,invention -consists in. the Vnovelconstruetion5 ,arrangement and kcombinations of parts hereinafter ,more fully .described andclaimed.

Inthe drawings:

Figure ,liseJ front view =in elevation of .my sav.- ingsbank.

Figure 2 .isa vertical `section of the bank.

Figure 3 yisla plan view of ,the bank.

Figure 4 is a bottom-,plan view ,oa removable closure plate `ior the upper end. of tl'iebank..

Figure 5 is a vertical section of a door for. closing a `discharge,opening for coins taken ,along `the line 5.-5 of Figure 6,

Figure 6 is a plan View ofthe inner. face of the bottomof. the bank.

Figure 7 isa bottom. plan View of said bank.

Figure 8 is `a fragmentary plan view of the i11- ner face of the bottom with the closure orv door remo-ved from the discharge opening for coins.

Figure 9 is .a fragmentary bottom plan View of the bank with the door or closure removed from the discharge opening.

Figure l0 is a bottom plan View of the door or closure shown removed from the bottom of the bank, and

Figure 11 is a plan View of the inner face of the closure shown removed from the bottom of the bank.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, l5 designates a coin container in the shape of a bell which has bottom or base I6 in the form of a ring secured by bolts l'l to the lower end of the container, The upper reduced end of said container has a coin slot I8 (Fig. 2)

The ring IB provides a central opening I9 for the discharge of coins and this opening vis nrmally closed by a disk 2), The inner periphery ci the ring has a pair of diametrically disposed notches 2l and 2,2, thereby providing a pair of segmental portions or ilanges 2-3 and *24 which are separated by the notches and which are disposed above the inner face of the ring'to form a seat for the cover `lor disk '20. The numerals l, l', i, in one series are applied to the outer face of vthe ring'while directly opposite :are apthe numerals 1, 8, 3, 5 in a second series.

The cover or closure /Zll 'has a pair of diametrically disposed vsegments or anges 25 and 26"at the periphery thereof similar to the flanges .23 and 2A! of the ring I6. Diametrically disposed lugs 28 and 29 project fromthe cover-and aredisposed between adjacent ends of thefsegments 25= and 2t. These lugs are 4,bent -inwardlyof-the plane of the cover so that they engage under the segments 23 and 24 on the ring I6. Furthermore, the lug 28 is of slightly less width than the notch 2| while the lug 29 is of slightly less width than the notch 22 so that the respective lugs may be passed through the corresponding notches. It will be noted that the cover (Fig. 10) has a series of numbers I, 1, 1, 6 on the segment 25 while the segment 26 is supplied with the numerals I, 1, 5, 3 in a series.

The cover has a diametrically disposed groove 3D. This groove is suiiiciently wide to receive a portion of a iifty-cent piece of money so that when the coin is rotated on vertical axis the coin will be rotated. In order to X the cover in place, it is seated on the ringr I3 with the lugs 28 and 29 being received by the respective notches 2l and 22, The lugs have the side edges beveled as shown at 3|, in Figure 1D, in order that said lugs may be forced to slide over the segments of the ring I6 (Fig. 8). The cover being in position, as described, supra, a coin or tool is inserted into the groove 3B and` rotated thus forcing the cover to rotate with the lugs riding on the inner surfaces of the segments 23 and 24. The cover is then held in place. To remove the cover, said cover is again revolved in either direction until the numerals I 1, 1, E on the cover aline with the numerals I, 1, 1, 6 on the ring I6 whence the lugs 28 and 29 will be alined with the respective notches 2I and 22l and said cover may beremoved.

A hollow bar 35 in the form of a metal casing and being a replica of a wooden beam in a belfry for supporting a bell therein is connected by a pair of spaced inverted U-shaped brackets 3G to the top of the bell or container I5, a bracket being at each side of the coin slot I8 (Figs. 1 and 2). These spaced brackets form part of a coin slot 31 as will be presently explained. It will be noted from Figure 2 that the hollow bar 35, the brackets 36 and the container I5 forma one-piece casting. The central portion of the bottom of the bar is also provided with a slot 3S which is in vertical alinement with the slot I8.

The upper end of the hollow bar 35 is open but is closed normally by a plate iii which is secured to the bar by bolts M threaded into bosses 42 depending from the inner face of the plate. Pairs of anges 43 and M (Figs. 2 and 4) depend from the inner face of the plate 4!) and at a central portion of said plate to provide the upper portion of the coin slot 31 so that when a coin is placed in the upper portion and released it will pass downwardly through the section 38 of the slot and thence between the Lil-shaped 'brackets 36. Passage through the slot I3 at the upper end of the container drops the coin into said container. The adjacent edges of the anges 43 and 44 are connected together to provide a rectangularly shaped channel member forming the upper portion of the coin slot 31.

T-shaped reinforcing bars connect the bight portions of the U-shaped brackets with the upper end of the container I5 at each side of the slot I8. These bars cooperate with the legs of said brackets for guiding a coin through the passage-way extending from the plate il to the slot I8. Furthermore, the spaced brackets 36 and the bars 50 form an open frame-work so that the coin may be viewed when passing through a portion of the continuous coin slot to the container. The height of the brackets is limited so that the smallest coin inserted into the slot 31 cannot ,4 escape between the legs at the opposite ends of the brackets.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, portions 5I on the bottom oi bar 35 extend downwardly between each pair of legs of the brackets for aiding in decreasing the height of the space between the legs.

The particular contour of the inner surface of the container I 5 embracing the slot I8 at the top thereof tends to prevent coins from being accidentally discharged through said slot or from being positively shaken through the slot. The curved and inclined surfaces 52 will cause the coins within the container to slide rapidly over the slot when the bank is turned upside down. Furthermore', the entire inner surface of the side walls ci"I the bell-shaped container will tend to maintain the coins at various angles to the horirontal when the container is placed on its side so that when the container is more than half full of coins, the angular disposition oi said coins would cause the coins to slide over the slot I8 rather than through it when the container is turned on end from the horizontal position. Thus, pilfering of coins from the bell-shaped container is prevented.

I claim:

l. A savings bank comprising a coin container having an upper reduced end provided with a coin slot in said end, a hollow bar located above the upper end of the container, a pair of spaced U-shaped brackets connecting the bottom of the bar with the top oi the container and forming part of a passage-way for coins to the slot, the upper end of the bar being open, a plate closing the open end of said bar and provided with a coin slot in vertical alinement with the slot in the container, and a channel member depending from' the plate for directing coins between the spaced brackets to the slot in the container.

2.' AV savings bank comprising a coin container having a reduced upper in which a coin slot is formed, a hollow bar in the form of a metal casing being spaced above the upper end of the container, the upper end of the casing being open, a plate closing the opening and provided with a coin'slot in vertical alinement with the slot in the container, spaced inverted U-shaped brackets between the bar and upper end of the container, the spaced bight portions of the brackets being connected to the bar, the free ends of the'legs of each bracket being connected to the top of the container at one side of the slot to provide a passage-way for coins entering the slot in the container, and means depending from and embracing the slot in the plate for guiding coins into the passage-way between the legs, said legs forming an open frame-work whereby a coin may be viewed when passing downwardly between said legs.

3. A savings bank comprising a coin container having an upper reduced end provided with a coin slot in said end, a hollow bar located above the upper end of the container, a pair of spaced U-shaped brackets connecting thebottom of the bar with the top of the container and forming part of a passage-way for coins to the slot, the upper end of the bar being open, a plate closing the open end of said bar and provided with a coin slot in vertical alinement with the slot in the container, and a channel member depending from the plate for directing coins between the spaced brackets to the slot in the container, the inner surfaces ofthe side walls of the container at the upper end thereof being .curved sharply 5 toward the slot in said end so that when the container is reversed in position in an attempt to discharge coins through the slot, said coins Will slide over the slot.

4. A savings bank comprising a coin container having a reduced upper end in which a coin slot is formed, a hollow bar in the form of a metal casing being spaced above the upper end of the container, the upper end of the casing being open, a plate closing the opening and provided with a coin slot in vertical alinernent with the slot in the container, spaced inverted U-shaped brackets between the bar and upper end of the container, the spaced bight portions of the brackets being connected to the bar, the free ends of the legs of each bracket being connected to the top of the container at one side of the slot to provide a passage-way for coins entering the slot in the 6 container, and a vertical channel member in ccmmunication with the slot in the plate, disposed within the hollow bar and having the lower end resting on the spaced bight portion of the U-shaped brackets for guiding a coin downwardly into the passage-way between the brackets.

JONATHAN 1. HOCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,679,644 Baughman et al. Aug. 7, 1928 1,838,317 Marchioni Dec. 29, 1931 2,393,729 Allen Jan. 29, 1946 

